Abkhaz-Georgian Talks to Resume in September

(Tbilisi, July 16, 2003, Civil Georgia) – The issue of Abkhaz conflict resolution was discussed at the UN facilitated Georgian-Abkhaz talks, which was held in breakaway Abkhaz capital of Sukhumi on July 15.

The Georgian side was represented by Special Affairs Minister Malkhaz Kakabadze, the Abkhaz side – by de facto Foreign Minister Sergei Shamba.

Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Georgia Heidi Tagliavini also participated in talks, along with the British, French, German, Russian and US ambassadors to Georgia.

In her statement Ambassador Heidi Tagliavini says that during the talks “participants confirmed their commitment to decide all disputed issues exclusively by peaceful means and expressed their interest in continuing the dialogue on security guarantees on a regular basis.”

“The meeting was dedicated to peace settlement of the Abkhaz conflict. We have not discussed any particular issues, either the enforcement of the Chapter 7 of the UN Charter”, Kakabadze said in the interview to the Tbilisi-based Imedi radio station on July 16.

An agreement was reached to hold the next meeting in the same format in September 2003 in Tbilisi.

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